Filter for 70-200 2.8 IS II

Ive read the sticky on filters and understand most of it.Im thinking i might need a general purpose filter for my lense for protection.Considering all of the two thousand different shooting conditions we come across when shooting photos,what are some general filter suggestions?Ive read alittle on the main brands that are recomended.With this lense being a 2.8 im hoping a filter wont have too much IQ loss.

Anyway,think about it and post your thoughts ect.

Thanks

Use a lens hood. That should be more than enough protection for 99% of situations. Do a few searches and you will find plenty about filters.

If you still feel like you need one, someone should have a good idea about what to use.

B+W MRC is best value imo

Hoyas are a nightmare to clean and the SHMC ones I had scratched easily. Heliopan are very expensive. B+W I can clean with my t-shirt and it keeps on ticking. Must get the MRC version. I think it's about $60 on BH cause I just picked one up with this lens two days ago

But yeah, despite this, I think filters are bad value for protection -the only reason I get it is I don't use lens caps and I don't want dust entering the lens through the front element side of the lens.

I use a Hoya SHMC on my 70-200II without no impact to the [SUPer high] keeper rate. I use B+W F-Pros on other lenses without any issues. I agree that a filter isn't always required. For walk-around protection, the hood is best. If you go with a filter for a basic protection, don't cheap out.

do you wear goggles every day?
you can't replace your eyes... why not protect those too, with goggles, every day?

SMP_Homer wrote in post #13612401
do you wear goggles every day?
you can't replace your eyes... why not protect those too, with goggles, every day?

Hahahha... FYI, I wear prescription glasses...:p There are only few occasions you would need a protective filter. Shooting a kid's party. Shooting a rally race with rocks, dust, dirt, and water flying everywhere. Maybe shooting on a beach.

I've had great results with the Hoya SHMC and Kenko Pro1 D DMC, both are made by the same company. Sold under Kenko in Japan and Hoya overseas. I've read a lot on filters, an extra piece of glass in front of an engineered lens will always degrade IQ no matter how good they are. I've come to terms that I would rather clean a filter over the front element itself at the cost of a minute IQ loss. I've done several shots comparing IQ with and without filters and the difference is not enough for me to remove the filter, that's me though.

The 70-200II is sealed and has a pretty deep hood so unless you constantly have abrasives flying towards your lens (in which case you have more profound problems to deal with), I would just keep it bare most of the time.

When necessary, I use a B+W MRC

Raylon wrote in post #13612332
Use a lens hood. That should be more than enough protection for 99% of situations.

^^^ This ^^^

I use a hood for protection, and a b+w cpl when I need a filter.

I rather spend $20/year to get my lens properly insured than $100 for a nice filter for so called protection. Don't know what you just shoot but I have shot at the beach, sports fields, 500mm f4 is and 1dmk2 lying in the mud for hrs and never needed any filters for protection.

bobbyz wrote in post #13612736
I rather spend $20/year to get my lens properly insured than $100 for a nice filter for so called protection. Don't know what you just shoot but I have shot at the beach, sports fields, 500mm f4 is and 1dmk2 lying in the mud for hrs and never needed any filters for protection.

Do they make filter that big for 500L.....

Good glass is best enjoyed "Au Natural".

smorter wrote in post #13612342
B+W MRC is best value imo

Hoyas are a nightmare to clean and the SHMC ones I had scratched easily. Heliopan are very expensive. B+W I can clean with my t-shirt and it keeps on ticking. Must get the MRC version..

+1

Definitely get the B+W MRC 101, it's the only UV filter I ever use on all my lens. I have tried the higher end Hoya once and returned the next day due to PITA to clean.

i use B+W MRC as well

because i don't use hoods on normal occasions (i only use them for events)
and i dump the lens/camera back in the bag without putting the lens cap back on, i don't want something in the bag rubbing against or dirtying the lens (the filter i can clean easily)

i can't do that with the 200L though, so i use a hood with that when i put it in the bag